The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft departed the International Space Station Saturday morning to begin a two-orbit free flight ahead of its deorbit burn and parachute assisted landing to return Yuri Malenchenko, Tim Kopra and Time Peake to Earth after a 186-day flight.

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft carrying Yuri Malenchenko, Tim Kopra and Tim Peake to the International Space Station made a smooth approach on Wednesday until its automated rendezvous system detected a problem and commanded the Soyuz to back away when just 20 meters from its destination. Experienced Soyuz commander Malenchenko assumed manual control and guided the 7,200-Kilogram craft back to a safe docking.

A Soyuz FG rocket lifts off from Site 1/5 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 15, 2015 – beginning a journey to bring Yuri Malenchenko, Tim Kopra and Tim Peake to orbit for a seven-month Space Station Mission.

The Soyuz FG rocket rolls out to its launch pad at Site 1/5 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Sunday, December 13, 2015 to begin the final preparations for liftoff, carrying the Soyuz TMA-19M crew of Yuri Malenchenko, Tim Peake and Tim Kopra.